Agrostemma githago

The delightful round-faced purple corn cockle is perfect in a meadow or wild garden, and can charm the eye in a traditional cottage garden. Without the support of wild grasses or corn it has informal, rather lax growth so it may need some support. This must be provided with care so its natural look is not too compromised. It presents an open face with five rounded petals, often surrounding a broad white heart. It may be entirely coloured a rather magenta shade of purple, and may even occasionally be white. There are several cultivars. The plant has long stems carrying grey-green leaves, long and slender, soft looking and downy to the touch. It is generally an annual, sometimes biennial and flowers in summer. The seeds should not be eaten as they are poisonous. Give it a sunny site in ordinary to poor soil that is well drained.